Click here for Glenn’s post-match thought thoughts and a background on the trialists.

 

Glenn Pennyfather claims the Clarets’ six-goal bonanza with a Leyton Orient side at Melbourne helped to ‘answer questions’ he had of the players on show and, with Rob Edmans bagging a brace on his return, City’s Head Coach hinted at a more settled squad to move forward with in the remaining friendlies.

 

Striker Edmans netted twice, with trialist Jamie Davis scoring in-between, as Chelmsford took a two-goal lead into the interval. A fight back by the young but talented side from Brisbane Road saw the match finish all-square, but Pennyfather had much more than the result to focus on during a night where he ran the rule over 20 players altogether.

 

“At times we passed it well,” he summarised after the match. “It got scrappy as well because of the amount of changes we were making and people not knowing individuals’ names. It was nice to see Robbie got on the score sheet. He’s back and he’s worked ever so hard in pre-season and he’s started with two goals, which is fantastic.”

 

Six newcomers made their first starts in a Claret shirt. In defence, Elliott Babbs was appearing against some of the Orient youths he used to play with, while Giovanni Gaudoux arrived from French League football and Bobby Aisien from closer to home at Rushden & Diamonds. Hasan Sulaiman, an ex-Arsenal youth prospect, also appeared as did Takumi Ake, who was a late starter amongst Newport County’s title-winning side last year. Goalscorer Davis is a former Tottenham Hotspur and Team Bath midfielder.

 

Within the 1st minute Sulaiman looked to make a quick impact as he shot over for the Clarets but the first blow was reserved for Edmans, who struck on 13 minutes. Davis displayed a weighted touch to knock the ball between defenders and in front of Edmans, who galloped forward and nicked under goalkeeper Thomas Lovelock into the net.

 

This triggered a succession of goals and it took merely three minutes for Orient to restore parity. Moses Obujado progressed with the ball down the right and brought a save out of City custodian James Pullen, but the parry fell ideally for the predatory Billy Loboit who finished from a few yards. Then, on 18 minutes, Davis turned goalscorer at the other end when his whistling effort from the edge of the area found its way past Lovelock.

 

Loboit turned out to be one of the visitors’ star performers on the night and he was determined to add to his earlier conversion around the middle of the period. Firstly he robbed a hesitant Aisien of the ball in a dangerous area before looping into the side netting. He also went on to strike a separate effort across the face, low and wide.

 

Though the late first half plaudits went to Edmans again, who seemed determined to make up for missing City’s opening friendly as an injury precaution. He was persistant on 40 minutes to power inside from the left and get the final touch which diverted the ball over the line from close range. And he could have completed his hat-trick in the final minute though he latched onto a deep pass and lobbed into the side-netting.

 

Glenn introduced four players from the bench after half-time, and made a total of nine substitutions, which mixed-up the pattern of play for the Clarets. The visitors were more settled as a result and the second half was very much their time to shine. Goalkeeper Lewis Batchford, who replaced a slightly injured Pullen in the first period, did well to get across his goal on 53 minutes to turn Bobby Scott’s free-kick around the post.

 

Within two minutes the O’s were back in the contest through Chris Benjamin, who tucked home from close proximity. Orient then enhanced their evening still further in the 63rd minute when they claimed a leveller as skipper Michael Richardson took advantage of some helpful defending to fire a loose ball high past Batchford from an acute angle.

 

Both sides had opportunities to steal the game towards the end. Simon Thomas’ towering header back towards the far post for City was pawed out by substitute ‘keeper Yilmaz Askoy and Bradley Stopher’s glancing nod from a corner sailed over. For the visitors, Loboit sent a tempting ball squirming across the goalmouth and out the other side while Stephen Reed ended the game in injury time by firing a Clarets free-kick off-target.

 

Of the players, Glenn said: “It was an opportunity to see if they fit within what I’m after from the team, and my framework. It was a good workout for us and it’s answered some questions for me, though I wouldn’t say it’s answered them all. After this week I’ll start to settle the squad down with more familiar faces coming back. With four games left to go to the start of the season I don’t envisage having too many more trialists coming in.”

 

City:

 

1 James Pullen

2 Anthony Cook

3 Elliott Babbs

4 Giovanni Gaudoux

5 Bobby Aisien

6 Stephen Reed

7 Hasan Sulaiman

8 John Martin

9 Rob Edmans

10 Jamie Davis

11 Takumi Ake

 

12 Josh Llewellyn (On for Edmans, 46)

12 Bradley Stopher (On for Aisien, 46)

14 Mark Haines (On for Cook, 46)

14 Ricky Modeste (On for Sulaiman, 68)

15 Lee Sang Hun (On for Davis, 61)

16 Sami El-Abd (On for Gaudoux, 46)

16 Simon Thomas (On for Martin, 65)

17 Kim Seok Beom (On for Ake, 61)

18 Tyrone Scarlett

19 Lewis Batchford (GK) (On for Pullen, 39)

20 Ryan Batchford

 

Leyton Orient XI: Thomas Lovelock (Yilmaz Askoy (GK), 68), Alan Mabuyaku (Sam Konway, 68), Joe O’Donoghue, Calum Compton, Stephen O’Hara (Jack Cawley, 46), Greg Knock, Moses Obudajo, Michael Richardson (C), Chris Benjamin, Billy Loboit, Bobby Scott (Antony Okadigbo, 68). Unused Substitutes: Hanif Boyle, Cain Shepherd.

 

Bookings: None.

 

Referee: Peter Wilson (Chelmsford).

 

Assistant Referees: Paul Reilly (Chelmsford) and Matthew Donohue (Hockley).

 

Attendance: 263.

 

City Man of the Match: John Martin.